NameCensus.

UK surname

Hankin

An English surname derived from the diminutive form "Hankin" of the given name "John".

In the 1881 census there were 916 people recorded with the Hankin surname, ranking it #4,185 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,437, ranked #4,264, down from #4,185 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton and Sefton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ashfield, East Hertfordshire and Allerdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hankin is 1,585 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.9%.

1881 census count

916

Ranked #4,185

Modern count

1,437

2016, ranked #4,264

Peak year

1999

1,585 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hankin had 916 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,185 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,437 in 2016, ranked #4,264.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,436 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hankin surname distribution map

The map shows where the Hankin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Hankin surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Hankin over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 695 #3,753
1861 historical 652 #4,116
1881 historical 916 #4,185
1891 historical 1,079 #3,906
1901 historical 1,230 #4,027
1911 historical 1,436 #3,369
1997 modern 1,514 #3,873
1998 modern 1,566 #3,899
1999 modern 1,585 #3,901
2000 modern 1,565 #3,922
2001 modern 1,538 #3,903
2002 modern 1,551 #3,965
2003 modern 1,457 #4,091
2004 modern 1,436 #4,142
2005 modern 1,413 #4,162
2006 modern 1,400 #4,192
2007 modern 1,401 #4,229
2008 modern 1,408 #4,240
2009 modern 1,462 #4,198
2010 modern 1,473 #4,246
2011 modern 1,441 #4,271
2012 modern 1,451 #4,196
2013 modern 1,471 #4,216
2014 modern 1,462 #4,255
2015 modern 1,431 #4,282
2016 modern 1,437 #4,264

Geography

Back to top

Where Hankins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton, Sefton and Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ashfield, East Hertfordshire and Allerdale. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton Hertfordshire
4 Sefton Lancashire
5 Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ashfield 011 Ashfield
2 East Hertfordshire 015 East Hertfordshire
3 Ashfield 012 Ashfield
4 Allerdale 007 Allerdale
5 East Hertfordshire 010 East Hertfordshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Hankin

These lists show first names that appear often with the Hankin surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Hankin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hankin, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Hankin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hankin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Hankin is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hankin is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hankin falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hankin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hankin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hankin

The surname Hankin is believed to have originated in England, dating back to the late medieval period. It is thought to be a diminutive form of the personal name "Han," which itself is a shortened version of the Old English name "Hana" or "Hana." The suffix "-kin" was a common diminutive ending used in the formation of surnames, indicating a familial relationship or affiliation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Hankin can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327, where a Robert Hanekyn is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the 14th century. Additionally, the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379 list a John Hankyn, further confirming the presence of the surname in various parts of England during the Middle Ages.

In terms of historical references, the Hankin surname does not appear to be prominently featured in major historical records or manuscripts like the Domesday Book. However, its presence in various county records and rolls from the 14th and 15th centuries indicates that it was a surname borne by individuals across different regions of England.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Hankin was William Hankin, who was born around 1560 in Cheshire, England. Another notable figure was John Hankin, a 17th-century English playwright and dramatist, born in 1869 and known for works such as "The Return of the Prodigal" and "The Last Worshipper."

Other historical figures with the Hankin surname include:

1. Thomas Hankin (1737-1806), an English land surveyor and cartographer who worked extensively in the East Midlands region. 2. St. John Hankin (1869-1909), an English playwright and novelist, known for his satirical comedies and social commentary. 3. Edith Hankin (1876-1950), a British artist and wood engraver, known for her illustrations in books and magazines. 4. Ernest Hankin (1865-1939), a British bacteriologist and pathologist who made significant contributions to the study of cholera and other infectious diseases. 5. Walter Hankin (1869-1939), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

It is worth noting that the Hankin surname may have evolved from or been influenced by various place names or older spellings of place names in England, such as Hankin Hill in Shropshire or Hankin Farm in Yorkshire. However, the exact origins and connections remain uncertain.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Hankin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hankin surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 220 Hankins recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.07x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 220 2.07x
Middlesex 168 1.87x
Hertfordshire 123 19.91x
Hampshire 78 4.25x
Surrey 44 1.01x
Northumberland 41 3.07x
Nottinghamshire 41 3.39x
Cambridgeshire 39 6.87x
Yorkshire 25 0.28x
Essex 18 1.02x
Northamptonshire 18 2.13x
Kent 14 0.46x
Lincolnshire 12 0.84x
Durham 11 0.41x
Warwickshire 10 0.44x
Huntingdonshire 9 5.06x
Worcestershire 8 0.68x
Bedfordshire 7 1.51x
Staffordshire 5 0.17x
Berkshire 4 0.59x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.74x
Cheshire 4 0.20x
Cumberland 3 0.39x
Shropshire 3 0.39x
Royal Navy 2 1.87x
Suffolk 2 0.18x
Angus 1 0.12x
Cardiganshire 1 0.46x
Devon 1 0.05x
Monmouthshire 1 0.15x
Somerset 1 0.07x
Wiltshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lathom in Lancashire leads with 33 Hankins recorded in 1881 and an index of 256.81x.

Place Total Index
Lathom 33 256.81x
Baldock 27 464.72x
Ware 26 146.81x
Westminster St John 23 21.07x
West Derby 18 5.78x
Portsea 15 4.17x
St Pancras London 15 2.08x
Widford 15 955.41x
Bispham 14 1627.91x
Hucknall Torkard 14 45.69x
Lambeth 14 1.79x
St George Hanover Square 14 8.86x
Hackney London 13 2.59x
Hatfield 13 103.75x
Tottenham 13 9.10x
Birkdale 12 44.59x
Bootle Cum Linacre 12 14.20x
Everton 12 3.54x
Litherland 12 53.96x
Liverpool 12 1.86x
Basford 11 19.75x
Hampstead London 11 7.88x
Kirkdale 11 6.15x
Mile End Old Town London 11 5.77x
Orell Ford 11 564.10x
Preston 11 3.87x
Alton 10 72.20x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 10 40.39x
Westgate 10 12.11x
Ashwell 9 185.57x
Great Amwell 9 145.16x
Humshaugh 9 616.44x
Islington London 9 1.04x
Aspull 8 31.97x
Bermondsey 8 3.00x
Girton 8 536.91x
March 8 42.08x
Moss Side 8 14.29x
Toxteth Park 8 2.22x
Bishopwearmouth 7 3.06x
Chelsea London 7 2.59x
Ealing 7 8.74x
Farringdon 7 388.89x
North South Gosforth 7 411.76x
Nottingham St Mary 7 2.24x
Odiham 7 86.85x
Birmingham 6 0.80x
Bradfield 6 17.52x
Croydon 6 2.47x
Doncaster 6 9.25x
Finningley 6 521.74x
Greenwich 6 4.20x
Hunsdon 6 370.37x
Kirkby 6 139.21x
Long Sutton 6 612.24x
Ormskirk 6 29.48x
St George In East London 6 7.12x
St Maurice Winchester 6 78.53x
Stoke Doyle 6 1621.62x
Worsley 6 9.15x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.28x
Crondall 5 50.66x
Elstow 5 292.40x
Eye 5 124.07x
Farnham 5 14.72x
Handsworth 5 6.70x
Hitchin 5 17.93x
Mattingley 5 320.51x
Sheering 5 299.40x
Sheffield 5 1.77x
St Giles In Fields London 5 11.37x
St Luke London 5 3.48x
Wigan 5 3.36x
Acton 4 7.61x
Burradon In Tynemouth 4 117.30x
Camberwell 4 0.70x
Melbourn 4 72.33x
Plumstead 4 3.92x
Scarisbrick 4 32.39x
Walton Le Dale 4 14.00x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hankin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hankin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 61
John 59
James 37
George 31
Thomas 30
Edward 24
Henry 23
Charles 22
Joseph 21
Alfred 10
Richard 10
Frederick 8
Robert 8
Arthur 7
Walter 6
Albert 4
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Samuel 4
Chas. 3
Fred 3
Herbert 3
Peter 3
Wm. 3
David 2
Fredk. 2
Gerald 2
Horace 2
Matthew 2
Cyril 1
Daniel 1
Dave 1
Ebenezar 1
Edgar 1
Ethbert 1
Francis 1
Fred. 1
Fredick. 1
Fredk.Jno. 1
Hy. 1
Infant 1
Jabez 1
Jeremiah 1
Jno. 1
Joe 1
Jos. 1
Joshua 1
Julian 1
Leonard 1
Wm.Jas.Rackham 1

FAQ

Hankin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hankin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 916 people were recorded with the Hankin surname. That placed it at #4,185 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hankin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,437 in 2016. That gives Hankin a modern rank of #4,264.

What does the Hankin surname mean?

An English surname derived from the diminutive form "Hankin" of the given name "John".

What does the Hankin map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hankin bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.